Bethel Park School District

May 2010 Highlights

Bethel Park Ranked #10 in Pittsburgh Business Times

• The Bethel Park School District is ranked #10 among the 105 area school districts evaluated by The Pittsburgh Business Times in its 2010 Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools, up from #14 last year.

• Bethel Park High School -- #11• Independence Middle School -- #13• NAMS Sixth Graders -- #14• NAMS Fifth Graders -- #10• BPSD -- #32 in the State, up from #42 last

year.• The rankings are based on PSSA scores

from 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

84 Inducted into National Honor Society

• 2 seniors, 15 juniors and 67 sophomores were recently inducted in the Bethel Park High School Chapter of the National Honor Society.

• Members must maintain a minimum 3.85 QPA, participate in a minimum of 35 community service hours annually and demonstrate the qualities of good character and leadership.

• The Guest Speaker at this year’s induction ceremony was District Magistrate Rob Wyda.

Congratulations, Lizzy Nolin!• BPHS sophomore Lizzy Nolin’s

pencil drawing of Helena Bonham Carter was selected as the winner of Congressman Tim Murphy’s 18th Congressional Art Contest.

• Lizzy competed against other high school students in Congressman Murphy’s district.

• Her drawing will hang in the Congressional hallway at the United States Capitol for one year, and Lizzy is invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 18.

• BPHS students Ashley Karpa, Renato Ruzzini and Elsa Yehnert also submitted artwork for consideration.

Lizzy Nolin (above) and her winning entry (below) of actress Helena Bonham

Carter.

Students Earn SHASDA Awards

• BPHS senior Emily Comer-Zello and junior Zane Hahner were selected to receive the South Hills Area School District’s SHASDA Awards.

• These awards are given annually by all SHASDA member high schools to the students who have overcome great obstacles to not only succeed in school but also in life.

• The Awards were presented at a special banquet held at Southpointe.

BPHS Students Do Well at State PJAS

• BPHS freshmen Shannon Fagan (“The Effect of Fertilizer on the pH of Runoff Water”) and Dan Snyder (“Controlling Chaos”) earned First Place Awards at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition, held on the Penn State campus.

• Freshman Caitlin Michael (“Multitasking Madness”) earned a Second Place Award.

(Counter clock-wise:) Shannon Fagan, Caitlin Michael and Dan Snyder.

Congratulations, Greg Vater!

• BPHS senior Greg Vater was one of 10 Gold Medal Winners from Southern and Western Allegheny County who were recognized in the Trib Total Media’s 2010 Outstanding Young Citizens Program.

• Greg was selected based on his academic achievements and his extracurricular activities, which include tutoring and participating in Relay for Life.

Congratulations, Justin Fleischmann!

• BPHS junior Justin Fleischmann finished in Ninth Place in the 2009-2010 Westinghouse Science Honors Institute’s voluntary examination, based on the lecture series which exposed high school juniors to the latest advances in science, technology and engineering.

• Justin was one of 400 area students who participated in this year’s program.

• He earned $250 for his Ninth Place finish on the Exam.

KMO Team Finishes 10th in State!

• The BPHS Knowledge Master Open Team —Ainesh Ravi, Andy Pfeifer, Shankar Athinarayanan, Jinjing Lee, Justin Fleischmann, Manasa Ravi, Paula Amin, Jeremy Ferlic and Trevor Walter finished in 10th place in Pennsylvania on the Spring KMO.

• KMO is a general knowledge quiz competition taken via computer, with points assigned based on speed and accuracy.

• 75 high school teams competed in Pennsylvania.

Congratulations, Liz Creighton

• BPHS junior Liz Creighton was a Finalist in the Internet Marketing Plan Event at DECA’s International Career Development Conference.

• This means she finished in the Top 10 in her event.

• Over 13,000 students participated at this year’s conference, including BPHS students Melissa Dolan, Billy Dapper, Ashley Gerst, Meghan Murray, Tom Bailey, Matt Dupree and Erin Hajduk.

• The conference was held in Louisville, KY.

Alyssa Sartore Named to Pitt’s Gene Team

• BPHS junior Alyssa Sartore was selected as a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Gene Team.

• She will work with researchers and students from other high schools this summer in Pitt’s labs, conducting cutting-edge genetic research.

• Only the best and brightest are selected to participate in this program.

Social Studies Classes Fold 1,000 Origami Cranes to

Send to Japan• BPHS Social Studies

students in Mr. Hrvatin’s classes folded 1,000 origami paper cranes and sent them to the Children’s Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan in memory of the hundreds of child victims of the atomic bomb.

• It took the students two weeks to complete the project, which was the culminating event of their unit of study on World War II.

Three Students Named Top of the Shop

• Three BPHS students who attend the Steel Center Area Vocational-Technical School earned Top of the Shop Awards for the second semester of the 2009-2010 school year:

• Nicholas Fedzen (Carpentry)• Maria LoPresti (Cosmetology)• Amy Wawrzyniak (Cosmetology)• These awards are given to the

students who demonstrate outstanding conduct, attendance, course work proficiency and professionalism.

Top to bottom: Nicholas Fedzen, Maria LoPresti and Amy Wawrzyniak

Music Department Earns Several Awards During

Spring Music Trips• At the Festivals of Music in Chicago:• Superior Ratings for Top 21 (2), Stage Band,

Symphonic Band, Bethettes, and Percussion Ensemble.

• Excellent Ratings for String Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Concert Band, Marching Band (also Second Place Award) and Majorettes.

• Section Award for Trumpet Section.• Individual Awards for Julie Hollis (Accompanist)

and Sam Rauch (Soloist).• At the Music in the Parks Festival in Hershey:• Superior Ratings and Best Overall Awards for

the Ninth Grade Band and Ninth Grade Girls Chorus.

• Excellent Rating and Best Overall Award for the Ninth Grade Orchestra.

Reception Held for 39 BPHS Scholar Athletes

• 39 BPHS senior athletes will continue their athletic careers in college.

• Football: Alex Baroffio, Matt Bliss, Anthony Herko, Adam Lazenga, Jared Pratt, Corey Spegal and Drew Volbers

• Track/Cross Country: Erik Bonn, Samantha Bruggeman, Ainesh Ravi, Hannah Saternos and Taylor Walter

• Soccer: Brittany Boss, Samantha Gribowicz, Katie Kelly, Alyssa Larkin, Chris Paglia and Colleen Poploski

• Golf: Christopher Bowen, Elizabeth Creighton and Kristin Sauter• Softball: Caitlin Brust, Karen Powers and Paula Valdisera• Cheerleading/Dance: Candace Corcoran and Jess Lindberg• Swimming: Carianna Doyle, Alyssa Hoffman, Sara

Lewandowski and Josh Sebrosky• Lacrosse: Lindsey Gelles, Taylor Hayes, Jonathan

Macurak, John Maloney, Lara McMahon and Anna Zigmond• Baseball: Anthony Girdano• Basketball: Danielle McNabb and Jordan Westphal

IMS Students and Staff Make a Bethel Park House “Home

Again”• More than 150 Independence

Middle School students and over 33 staff members spent a weekend in May refurbishing the home of a deserving Bethel Park family.

• The students spent the entire school year raising over $19,000 for supplies and materials.

• This is the second year for this student service learning project that is quickly becoming a Bethel Park tradition.

“Before” (above) and “After (below)

Mark Render Receives Colin Powell Award

• BPHS Social Studies Teacher Mark Render was the first Pittsburgh teacher to receive the 2010 General Colin L. Powell Service Award.

• This award is given annually to the high school educator who best supports young adults desiring to serve in the United States Military following graduation.

• The award was presented at a banquet held at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland.

Congratulations, Jean Harrington

• Neil Armstrong Middle School Learning Support Teacher Jean Harrington received the 2010 Scott E. Follmer STEPP Honorable Mention Award.

• The award is given each year to a teacher, student and school or school district who provides outstanding support of children receiving special education services.

• She was presented the award at a banquet in May held at Carlynton Junior-Senior High School.

Congratulations, Ron Campion

• Bethel Park High School/Independence Middle School Instrumental Music Teacher Ron Campion was inducted into the Festivals of Music’s Hall of Fame.

• He was inducted during the BPHS Spring Music Trip to Chicago in April.

Be A Host Family!• The Bethel Park School

District will welcome 18 students from Xing Zhi High School, our sister school, to Bethel Park August 26-29.

• We are looking for host families to house one or two of these students during their brief stay in Bethel Park.

• To volunteer or learn more about this great experience, please contact Sharon Dailey ASAP at sdaileywmsg@msn.com.

• You’ll be GLAD you did! Thank you!